Created attachment 203537 [details] CALC - feature request - new UI for conditional formatting SUMMARY The current UI of the conditional formatting is not very effective and has much room for improvement. This is a suggestion / design study of how an updated version could look like. Using wording: * A "group" is one area to which many formatting rules can apply (this is the way that it currently is, I just gave a name in lack of knowing the correct term) * A "formatting element" is what sets the rule for the format (this also exists right now, but has a different name) 1) Reducing the window from two (overview -> formatting 'group') down to one. There is no real need for a second window and it makes working with this tool harder than needed 2) Controls for the group are now on the left next to the group * + will add a group * [document with arrow] will apply the group without changing the file yet (the use would be if the changes you made apply correctly without the need of closing the window and reopening it, applying adaptions, closing, opening ... as it currently is the case) * - will remove the group 3) Controls for the formatting element are moved to the right * + will add a formatting element * [two documents behind each other] will duplicate the currently selected formatting element * [bar with arrow] will allow you to edit the area of the group (exactly as it exists right now) * [bar with eye] will allow you to show the area of the group. Contrary to the above, you will only be able to see the effected area and not change it. Often I just want to check if the size of the area is right. Currently there is no way to only view the area so I end up using the tool to change it. Even I just want to view the sometimes larger area, I sometimes also end up editing it, even I don't want to. * - will remove the formatting element 4) Controls at the bottom are moved to the side. Only 'Help', 'Cancel' and 'OK' are kept in place and would work like they currently do. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION This style is influenced by the page style (? - the option that let's you edit sheet size, border, etc) that got added tabs to it some time ago. This made it not only much more nice looking, but also made it much more efficient (at least IMHO). So the goal is to reach the same with the change I suggested. Keep in mind that they are just suggestions, sort of a quick first draft that can be used for further discussion.
Created attachment 203538 [details] CALC - feature request - new UI description 1
Created attachment 203539 [details] CALC - feature request - new UI description 2
Created attachment 203540 [details] CALC - feature request - new UI description 3
This feature request is partially based on https://bugs.documentfoundation.org/show_bug.cgi?id=169054 -> Feature request to add a "name" option to the group to better identify it The change would also have to include a space for a button to lock the affected area from being overwritten as suggested on https://bugs.documentfoundation.org/show_bug.cgi?id=169055 -> Feature request to lock the effected area from being overwritten
Thanks for your input. Rather than those (unusual) buttons on the dialog side I would go with an ordinary toolbar. But do you mind to add your ideas to bug 165162 and make this one a duplicate?
(In reply to Heiko Tietze from comment #5) > Thanks for your input. Rather than those (unusual) buttons on the dialog > side I would go with an ordinary toolbar. But do you mind to add your ideas > to bug 165162 and make this one a duplicate? I'm not sure if these two feature request really have the same goal. Eg. "allow only one condition per Add CF" is (as explained on the other post) is the not-goal for me. Buttons: Their place was driven by what they control (positioning them as close as possible to the area you would click in anyway) and what they do (so that it's intuitive what a "+" will add where). I don't mind if they look different or are in a different position as long as they are not mashed into one space or are on the opposite side of the window from where you want to use them. Are there any visual suggestions / design studies for an ordinary toolbar that includes the same features?
I'll post also my UI suggestions here, unless you guys prefer a new thread. About the “Manage Conditional Formatting” panel: - the window width should be larger and resizeable - maybe it would be better to mark or show if there are multiple conditions to avoid deleting the wrong entries - it needs a Duplicate or Copy button
Could you also make editing a CF with formulas a bit faster? Every time I have to click the Conditional button > Condition > More rules > confirm warning about existing CF. What about a simple "Edit CF" button?